Integrated repeater for integratedly relaying various types of communication signals, and integrated relay system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an integrated repeater and an integrated relay system. The integrated repeater of the present invention receives a signal from a main repeater for relaying signals transmitted from upper devices, and comprises a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the multiplexed signal of an Ethernet signal and a mobile communication signal received from the main repeater, and separate the signals into the mobile communication signal and the Ethernet signal; a first converter configured to convert the mobile communication signal separated from the demultiplexer into a radio frequency (RF) signal, and transmit the converted RF signal; a second converter configured to convert the Ethernet signal separated from the demultiplexer into a wireless LAN signal, and transmit the converted wireless LAN signal; and a switching unit configured to deliver a signal received from the main repeater to either the demultiplexer or the second converter, depending on whether a fault of the mobile communication signal is generated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/696,281 (filed on Nov. 5, 2012), which is aNational Stage Patent Application of PCT International PatentApplication No. PCT/KR2011/003155 (filed on Apr. 28, 2011) under 35U.S.C. §371, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos.10-2010-0041361 (filed on May 3, 2010) and 10-2010-0041362 (filed on May3, 2010), the teachings of which are incorporated herein in theirentireties by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a repeater for relaying communicationsignals, more specifically to an integrated repeater and an integratedrelay system for relaying various types of wireless/wired communicationsignals.

Recently, with the great development of electronics andtelecommunication technologies, mobile communication terminals providevarious functions, such as voice communication, internet access, videocommunication and the transmission of multimedia message. Also, asmobile communication terminals are propagating rapidly, mostcommunications made between people are through mobile communicationterminals, which have become a ubiquitous part of modern daily life.

Also, with the continuous development of mobile communicationinfrastructure, various kinds of mobile communication networks arecurrently provided, and even more advanced mobile communication networksare expected in the near future. The current mobile communication systemincludes a wideband CMDA (W-CDMA) system which is classified as a thirdgeneration mobile communication, and a mobile world interoperability formicrowave access (WiMAX) system, e.g., IEEE 802.16e, which allows theuse of high-speed internet service while mobile. Also, a wireless LAN(WLAN) service, e.g., Wi-Fi enabling ultra high-speed internet within acertain distance from an installed access point by way of notebookcomputers and such is provided.

In order to realize these various kinds of communication networks, amulti-band and multi-mode terminal has been developed. The multi-bandand multi-mode terminal can access all communication networks havingmulti-bandwidth or at least two communication networks having differentconnection methods. That is, the multi-band and multi-mode terminal isan integrated device in which all communication modems corresponding toeach communication network are provided.

In today's environment, where various kinds of communication servicesand terminals are provided, efforts are being made to provide customerswith the best quality of service in the telecommunication industry. Themost representative effort is to minimize a shadow area at which acommunication signal is not properly transmitted. Such a communicationdrop in the shadow area has been overcome by installing an additionalbase station or a repeater therein. However, a base station hasunbelievably high installation costs and is difficult to install innarrow places such as the underground and parking lots of a building.For this reason, repeaters are generally installed to provide bettercommunication service in the shadow area.

However, as communication services are diversifying and a repeater isinstalled separately for each communication service, installation costsincrease and damages the building appearance by the indiscriminateinstallation of the repeater.

SUMMARY

The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the priorart, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to providean integrated repeater and an integrated relay system for combining andrelaying various types of communication signals to a shadow area.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understoodfrom the following descriptions and become more apparent from theembodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be understood thatthe objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized bymeans defined in the claims of the present invention and a combinationthereof.

In order to accomplish the above object, in accordance with one aspectof the present invention, there is provided an integrated repeater whichreceives a signal from a main repeater for relaying signals transmittedfrom upper devices, comprising a demultiplexer configured to demultiplexthe multiplexed signal of an Ethernet signal and a mobile communicationsignal received from the main repeater, and separate the signals intothe mobile communication signal and the Ethernet signal; a firstconverter configured to convert the mobile communication signalseparated from the demultiplexer into a radio frequency (RF) signal, andtransmit the converted RF signal; a second converter configured toconvert the Ethernet signal separated from the demultiplexer into awireless LAN signal, and transmit the converted wireless LAN signal; anda switching unit configured to deliver a signal received from the mainrepeater to either the demultiplexer or the second converter, dependingon whether a fault of the mobile communication signal is generated.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an integrated repeater for relaying a signal received from anupper device to a lower device, comprising a first receiver configuredto receive a first mobile communication signal transmitted from a mobilecommunication base station which is the upper device; a second receiverconfigured to receive an Ethernet signal transmitted from an Ethernetequipment which is the upper device; a first multiplexer configured tomultiplex the first mobile communication signal received from the firstreceiver and the Ethernet signal received from the second receiver; anda switching unit configured to be selectively connected to either thesecond receiver or the first multiplexer to deliver the signal outputfrom the second receiver or the first multiplexer to the lower device,depending on whether a fault of the mobile communication signal isgenerated.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an integrated relay system for the integrated relay ofcommunication signals, comprising a main device configured to receive amobile communication signal from a mobile communication base station andan Ethernet signal from an Ethernet equipment and transmit themultiplexed signal of the mobile communication signal and the Ethernetsignal; and a plurality of termination devices configured to beconnected to the main device to demultiplex the multiplexed signalstransmitted from the main device, separate the signals into the mobilecommunication signal and the Ethernet signal and transmit the separatedmobile communication signal and Ethernet signal to a communicationterminal, wherein the main device comprises a first switching unitconfigured to select either the multiplexed signal or the Ethernetsignal received from the Ethernet equipment, depending on whether afault of the mobile communication signal is generated, and the pluralityof termination devices comprise a second switching unit configured toallow the signal received from the first switching unit of the maindevice to be subject to a demultiplexing process or not.

In accordance with the present invention, various kinds of communicationsignals can be relayed through an integrated relay system to a shadowarea, thereby reducing costs necessary to install additional relaysystems per every communication service and to produce additional relaysystems. Also, since the relay system of the present invention isinstalled in an integrated form in a building, damages to the buildingappearance may be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the UMU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the ERU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration of the ERU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative configuration of the UMU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the UMU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration of the EHU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative configuration of the EHU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative configuration of the UMU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a configuration of ERU according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according tostill another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following descriptions of the embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings, from which it will be deemed that a person havingordinary skill can easily practice the technical spirit of the presentinvention. Also, any explanation of the prior art known to relate to thepresent invention may be omitted if it is regarded to render the subjectmatter of the present invention vague. Hereinafter, preferredembodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toone embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the integrated relay system according to oneembodiment of the present invention comprises a UTP master hub unit(UMU) 100 which is connected to an upper device such as a base station,and a plurality of expansion remote units (ERU) of 200-1 to 200-N whichare termination devices installed inside a building and are connected toUMU 100 via an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable.

UMU 100, which is the main repeater of the integrated relay system,receives a mobile WiMAX signal (hereinafter, referred to as “WiBrosignal”) and a WCDMA signal in the form of a radio frequency (RF) signalfrom a base station or in the form of an optical signal from an opticalrepeater. Also, UMU 100 receives an analog Ethernet signal from anexternal fast ethernet switch (FES). UMU 100 multiplexes the receivedWiBro signal, WCDMA signal and Ethernet signal to transmit through theUTP cable to the plurality of the ERU of 200-1 to 200-N which arepresent in a remote distance.

Also, UMU 100 demultiplexes the multiplexed signal of the WiBro signal,WCDMA signal and Ethernet signal received from the termination device,ERU of 200-1 to 200-N and transmits the demultiplexed signals to theupper device. Similar to the receipt of a signal, UMU 100 may transmitthe WiBro signal and WCDMA signal received from the ERU of 200-1 to200-N in the form of a RF signal to the base station or in the form ofan optical signal through an optical repeater.

The UTP cable is essentially installed in the early construction ofvarious buildings for residence, office, public facilities and the like.Particularly, with the trend of modern-style automated buildings, suchbuildings are generally designed so that the UTP cable is used as adistribution system. The integrated relay system of the presentinvention is to relay a communication signal by using such a UTP cablewhich is essentially installed in various buildings, thereby reducingcosts for the construction of a system.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the UMU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the ERU of theintegrated relay system shown in FIG. 1, where both show a process of aforward signal.

Referring to FIG. 2, UMU 100 comprises a WiBro receiver configured toreceive a WiBro signal, and the WiBro receiver comprises aphoto-electric converter 101, an IF converter 103 and an analog-digitalconverter (ADC) 105. The photo-electric converter 101 converts a signalof a WiBro base station, which is received as an optical signal throughan optical repeater and an optical cable, into an electric digitalsignal through a photo diode (PD) and outputs the signal. The forwardsignal which is output through the photo-electric converter 101 is a 50MHz/14 bit signal. Also, the signal of the WiBro base station may bedirectly received in the form of a RF signal, and the RF signal isfrequency down-converted through IF converter 103 and converted into adigital signal of 50 MHz/14 bit through ADC 105 before the outputthereof.

In addition, UMU 100 comprises a WCDMA receiver configured to receive aWCDMA signal, and the WCDMA receiver comprises a photo-electricconverter 107, an IF converter 109 and an ADC receiver 111, similar tothe WiBro receiver. The photo-electric converter 107 converts a signalof a WiBro base station, which is received as an optical signal throughan optical repeater, into an electric digital signal through a photodiode (PD) and outputs the signal. The forward signal which is outputthrough the photo-electric converter 107 is a 50 MHz/14 bit signal.Also, the signal of the WiBro base station may be directly received inthe form of a RF signal, and the RF signal is frequency down-convertedthrough IF converter 109 and converted into a digital signal of 50MHz/14 bit through ADC 111 before the output thereof.

Also, UMU 100 comprises an Ethernet receiver configured to receive anEthernet signal, and the Ethernet receiver comprises a physical chip(PHY) 113 and a converter 115 for data transmitted. PHY 113 receives a100 Mbps of analog Ethernet signal from an external fast Ethernet switch(FES) and converts the signal into a digital signal. It is required thatthe Ethernet signal converts into a 50 MHz signal for the multiplexingwith a 50 MHz WCDMA signal. The signal used above is a reduced mediaindependent interface (RMII) signal among interface signals between theEthernet physical interface and an Ethernet controller, and the RMIIsignal output from PHY 113, which is a 25 MHz/1 bit signal, is convertedinto a 50 MHz/2 bit signal in the converter 115 for data transmitted andoutput to a multiplexer 127.

The WiBro signal, WCDMA signal and Ethernet signal thus received aremultiplexed and transmitted through the UTP cable to the lower device,ERU of 200-1 to 200-N. The specific transmission procedure is shown inFIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, UMU 100 comprises a multiplexer (MUX) 117configured to multiplex a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal, and amultiplexer (MUX) 127 configured to multiplex a WCDMA signal and anEthernet signal.

First, a WiBro digital signal output from a WiBro receiver and a WCDMAdigital signal output from a WCDMA receiver are multiplexed to onesignal in MUX 117. The multiplexed signal output from MUX 117 is a 50MHz/28 bit signal, and it is framed in a gigabit transmission format ina framer 119. At this time, a gigabit UTP cable may be used to allow adata transmission less than 1 Gbps for one line. Accordingly, a datadistributor 121 divides a frame output from the framer 119 into two, andtwo physical chips 123 and 125 transmits two frames divided in the datadistributor 121 to the lower ERU 200-2, respectively.

Next, a WCDMA digital signal output from a WCDMA receiver and anEthernet digital signal output from an Ethernet receiver are multiplexedto one signal in MUX 127. The multiplexed signal output from MUX 127 isa 50 MHz/16 bit signal. As mentioned above, the signals output from theWCDMA receiver and the Ethernet receiver are identically set to 50 MHzand thus multiplexed without a complex signal conversion, from which itis possible to avoid the influence of a time delay and the complexity oflogic. The signal output from MUX 127 is framed to a 125 MHz/8 bitsignal in a framer 129, and the signal output from the framer 129 isconverted into a gigabit Ethernet signal through a gigabit physical chip131 and transmitted to the lower ERU 200-1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the signal which is multiplexed in the UMU 100 ofFIG. 2 and output therefrom is transmitted through the UTP cable to thelower ERU 200-1, 200-2. In FIG. 3, ERU 200-1 is for a WCDMA/WiFi, andERU(200-2), for a WCDMA/WiBro.

The ERU 200-1 which is for a WCDMA/WiFi comprises a physical chip 201, areframer 203, a demultiplexer (DEMUX) 205, a data converter 207, aphysical chip 209, an access point (AP) module 211, a digital-analogconverter (DAC) 213 and a RF converter 215. Specifically, themultiplexed signal of a WCDMA signal and an Ethernet signal, which istransmitted from UMU 100, is received through a UTP cable to thephysical chip 201 in which the received signal is converted into a 125MHz/8 bit signal. The signal converted in the physical chip 201 isreframed into a 50 MHz/16 bit signal in a reframer 203. The signaloutput from the reframer 203 is separated into a 50 MHz/14 bit WCDMAdigital signal and a 50 MHz/2 bit Ethernet digital signal in DEMUX 205.Among the signals separated in DEMUX 205, the WCDMA signal is convertedinto an analog signal in DAC 213 and frequency up-converted into a RFsignal in RF converter 215 and then transmitted to a user terminal.Among the signals separated in DEMUX 205, the Ethernet signal isconverted into a 25 MHz/1 bit signal in data converter 207, passedthrough the physical chip 209 to be applied to AP 211, and transmittedto a user terminal having a wireless LAN depending on a WiFi standard.

Also, ERU(200-2) which is for a WCDMA/WiBro comprises two physical chips231 and 233, a data combination unit 235, a reframer 237, DEMUX 239,DACs 241 and 245, and RF converters 243 and 247. Specifically, themultiplexed signal of a WCDMA signal and a WiBro signal, which istransmitted from UMU 100, is received as two UTP signals, and the twoUTP signals are converted into digital signals in two physical chips 231and 233. The digital signal output from the physical chips 231 and 233are combined in the data combination unit 235 to form one digitalsignal, and the combined digital signal is reframed in the reframer 237and then output. The signal output from the reframer 237 is separatedinto a WCDMA signal and a WiBro signal in DEMUX 239, and each signal isconverted into an analog signal in DACs 241 and 245 and frequencyup-converted into a RF signal in RF converters 243 and 247, and thentransmitted to each of a WCDMA terminal and a WiBro terminal.

As explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the integrated relay systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention allows theintegrated relay of a mobile communication signal and an internet signalin a shadow area, such as the inside of a building, in which a RF signalis not well received. In accordance with the present invention, variouskinds of signals can be transmitted to a user through one repeater,which reduces costs of producing a repeater, to overcome theconventional problems of having to install internet repeaters and mobilecommunication repeaters separately. In embodiments with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3, although only ERU 200-1 for WCDMA/WiFi and ERU 200-2 forWCDMA/WiBro are illustrated as a lower ERU, an ERU for WiBro/WiFi mayalso be applicable. In this case, the MUX 127 of UMU 100 multiplexes aWiBro signal and an Ethernet signal, not a WCDMA signal, to transmitthrough a UTP cable, and the ERU for WiBro/WiFi has the sameconfiguration as ERU 200-1 for WCDMA/WiFi.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration of the ERU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows an alternativeconfiguration of the UMU of the integrated relay system shown in FIG. 1,where both show a process of a reverse signal which is transmitted fromERU 200-1, 200-2 to UMU 100.

Referring to FIG. 4, ERU 200-1 for WCDMA/WiFi receives a wireless LANsignal from a user terminal having a wireless LAN or a WCDMA signal froma WCDMA terminal. The wireless LAN signal transmitted from a userterminal having a wireless LAN is received by AP module 411. Thewireless LAN signal received by AP module 411 is input as a 100 MbpsEthernet signal in a physical chip 409, and the physical chip 409converts the Ethernet signal into a digital signal to output to a dataconverter 407. Since the Ethernet signal should be multiplexed with theWCDMA signal, the data converter 407 converts the digital signal outputfrom the physical chip 409 into a 50 MHz/2 bit signal to output to MUX405. Meanwhile, a WCDMA RF signal received from a WCDMA terminal isfrequency down-converted as an intermediate frequency band in IFconverter 415 and then output. The WCDMA signal of an intermediatefrequency band is converted into a digital signal in ADC 413 and outputto MUX 405. MUX 405 multiplexes the 50 MHz/2 bit Ethernet signal outputfrom the data converter 407 and the 50 MHz/14 bit WCDMA signal outputfrom ADC 413 to form one signal which is output to a framer 403. Themultiplexed signal formed in MUX 405 is a 50 MHz/16 bit signal. Theframer 403 frame-processes the multiplexed signal to form a 125 MHz/8bit signal and then outputs the processed signal. A physical chip 401converts the signal output from the framer 403 into a gigabit Ethernetsignal and transmits the converted signal through a UTP cable to UMU100.

Also, ERU(200-2) for WCDMA/WiBro comprises IF converters 443 and 447,ADCs 441 and 445, MUX 439, a framer 437, a data distribution unit 435,and physical chips 431 and 433. Specifically, a RF signal transmittedfrom a WCDMA terminal is converted as an intermediate frequency band inIF converter 443. A RF signal transmitted from a WiBro terminal isconverted as an intermediate frequency band in IF converter 447. Thesignals of an intermediate frequency band which are output from IFconverters 443 and 447 are converted into digital signals in ADCs 441and 445. The WCDMA digital signal and WiBro digital signal output fromADCs 441 and 445 are multiplexed in MUX 439 to form one signal. Themultiplexed signal in MUX 439 is framed in a gigabit transmission formatin the framer 437. The signal output from the framer 437 is distributedinto two signals in the data distribution unit 435 and output tophysical chips 431 and 433. Physical chips 431 and 433 converts each ofthe two signals into a gigabit signal and transmits each convertedsignal to UMU 100 through the UTP cable.

Referring to FIG. 5, each of the two physical chips 323 and 325 whichare equipped in the WCDMA/WiBro receiver of UMU 100 receives a signaltransmitted from ERU 200-2 for WCDMA/WiBro through a UTP cable andconverts the received signal into a digital signal. Each digital signalis combined with each other to form one signal in a data combinationunit 321 and output to a reframer 319. The reframer 319 reframes thesignal output from the data combination unit 321 to extract a pure datasignal and outputs to DEMUX 317. DEMUX 317 demultiplexes the signaloutput from the reframer 319 into a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal tooutput to a WiBro transmitter and a WCDMA transmitter, respectively.

The electric-photo converter 301 of the WiBro transmitter converts theWiBro signal output from DEMUX 317 by using a laser diode into anoptical signal and transmits the optical signal through an optical cableto an optical repeater. DAC 305 converts the WiBro signal output fromDEMUX 317 into an analog signal. RF converter 303 converts the analogsignal output from DAC 305 into a frequency-up analog signal andtransmits the converted signal to a WiBro base station.

The photo-electric converter 307 of the WCDMA transmitter converts theWCDMA signal output from DEMUX 317 by using a laser diode into anoptical signal and transmits the optical signal through an optical cableto an optical repeater. DAC 311 converts the WCDMA signal output fromDEMUX 317 into an analog signal. RF converter 309 converts the analogsignal output from DAC 311 into a frequency-up analog signal andtransmits the converted signal to a WCDMA base station.

Referring to FIG. 5, the physical chip 331 equipped in theWCDMA/Ethernet receiver of UMU 100 receives the signal transmitted fromERU 200-1 for WCDMA/WiFi through a UTP cable and converts the signalinto a 125 MHz/8 bit digital signal. The converted digital signal isreframed in the reframer 329 to extract a pure data signal and output toDEMUX 327. The signal output from the reframer 329 is a 50 MHz/16 bitsignal. DEMUX 327 demultiplexes the signal output from the reframer 329into a 50 MHz/14 bit WCDMA signal and a 50 MHz/2 bit Ethernet signal tooutput to a WCMA transmitter and an Ethernet transmitter. The WCDMAtransmitter processes a signal as mentioned above. The converter 315 fordata received, of the Ethernet transmitter, converts the 50 MHz/2 bitEthernet signal into a 25 MHz/1 bit signal and outputs the convertedsignal to physical chip 313. The physical chip 313 transmits theEthernet signal to an upper device.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

Unlike the integrated relay system shown in FIG. 1, the integrated relaysystem of FIG. 6 further comprises expansion hut units 600 and 800 whichis a hub repeater between the main repeater UMU 500 and the terminationdevices of ERUs 700-1 to 700-N. EHU 600,800 is connected to the mainrepeater UMU 500 and the lower EHU 600, 800 through an optical cable ora UTP cable, while being connected to the termination units of ERU 700-1to 700-N through a UTP cable.

For example, if a complex building such as an apartment is provided withone UMU 500, each area or each layer constituting the complex buildingis provided with hub repeaters EHUs 600 and 800 configured to multiplexa WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal received from UMU 500 and an Ethernetsignal received from an Ethernet equipment and transmits the multiplexedsignal to a lower EHU or a termination unit. Similar to EHUs 600 and800, the Ethernet equipment, FES, is installed in each area or eachlayer constituting the complex building as opposed to only one percomplex building.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the UMU of the integrated relay systemshown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 shows a configuration of the EHU of theintegrated relay system shown in FIG. 6, where both show a process of aforward signal. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals areregarded as indicating the elements having the same function andoperation as those of FIGS. 2 and 3, and the detailed description of thesame elements may be herein omitted.

In the UMU 500 of the integrated relay system shown in FIG. 7, aWCDMA/WiBro transmitter configured to transmit the multiplexed signal ofa WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal to EHU 600 further comprises anelectric-photo converter 701, a data distribution unit 703, and physicalchips 705 and 707, unlike FIG. 2. The electric-photo converter 501 is totransmit the multiplexed signal through an optical cable to EHU 600,specifically it converts the multiplexed signal output from the framer119 through a laser diode (LD) into an optical signal and transmits thesignal through an optical cable to EHU 600. The data distribution unit703 and physical chips 705 and 707 transmit the multiplexed signalthrough a UTP cable to EHU 600. The data distribution unit 703 separatesthe signal received from the framer 119 into two signals. Each ofphysical chips 705 and 707 transmits each of said two signals as agigabit signal through a UTP cable to EHU 600. Since the capacity of theoptically transmitted data signals is 2.5 Gbps or higher, while thetransmission capacity of the UTP cable is less than 1 Gbps, the signalsare transmitted through two UTP cables.

Referring to FIG. 8, EHU 600 comprises a WCDMA/WiBro receiver configuredto receive the multiplexed signal of a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signaltransmitted from UMU 500. The WCDMA/WiBro receiver comprises aphoto-electric converter 801, a reframer 803, physical chips 807 and809, and a data combination unit 811. The photo-electric converter 801converts an optical signal into an electric signal when the multiplexedsignal is received through an optical cable. The physical chips 807 and809 and the data combination unit 811 operates when the multiplexedsignal is received through a UTP cable. Each of the physical chips 807and 809 converts the signal received from the UTP cable into a digitalsignal, and the data combination unit 811 combines the converted signalsand outputs the combined signal to the reframer 803. The reframer 803reframes the signal output from the photo-electric converter 801 or datacombination unit 811 to extract a pure data signal and outputs theextracted signal to DEMUX 805.

The DEMUX 805 of EHU 600 demultiplexes the signal output from thereframer 803 into a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal, and then outputsthe WiBro signal and the WCDMA signal to MUX 813, wherein the WCDMAsignal is also transmitted to other MUX 127. MUX 813 again multiplexesthe WiBro signal and the WCDMA signal output from DEMUX 805, and themultiplexed signal is again transmitted through the lower reframer 119,electric-photo converter 701, data distribution unit 703, and physicalchips 705 and 707 to a lower EHU, similar to UMU 500. That is, theWCDMA/WiBro transmitter of EHU 600 has the same configuration as theWCDMA/WiBro transmitter of UMU 500. Although it may be thought thatDEMUX 805 is unnecessary since the multiplexed signals is againtransmitted to a lower EHU, DEMUX 805 is used to demultiplex the WiBrosignal and the WCDMA signal so that an Ethernet signal to be input inEHU 600 and a WCDMA signal to be multiplexed are separated.

The WCDMA signal separated in DEMUX 805 as mentioned above ismultiplexed with an Ethernet signal in MUX 127 and then transmitted to alower ERU 700-1 for WCDMA/WiFi. The Ethernet receiver and theWCDMA/Ethernet transmitter of EHU 600, shown in the lower part of FIG.8, are identical to the Ethernet receiver and the WCDMA/Ethernettransmitter of UMU 500 shown in FIG. 7. Meanwhile, ERU 700-1 isidentical to ERU 200-1 for WCDMA/WiFi shown FIG. 3, and ERU 700-N isidentical to ERU 200-2 for WCDMA/WiBro shown FIG. 3.

That is, EHU 600 receives an Ethernet signal directly from an Ethernetequipment, and receives a WCDMA signal and a WiBro signal from an upperdevice, UMU 500. At this time, although UMU 500 may transmit themultiplexed signal of the WiBro signal and the WCDMA signal, and EHU 600may transmit the multiplexed signal directly through an optical cable ora UTP cable to a lower EHU, in order to multiplex the Ethernet signalinput from an Ethernet equipment and the WCDMA signal and transmit themultiplexed signal to termination units of ERU 700-1 to 700-N, themultiplexed signal received from UMU 500 is demultiplexed and then againmultiplexed. Accordingly, since the lowest EHU has no further lowerdevice, it is not required to demultiplex the multiplexed signalreceived from the upper EHU and then again multiplex the signals. Such aprocedure may be performed under the condition that MUX 813, framer 119,electric-photo converter 701, data distribution unit 703, and physicalchips 705 and 707 do not operate or in the absence thereof.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative configuration of the ERU of the integratedrelay system shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 shows an alternativeconfiguration of the UMU of the integrated relay system shown in FIG. 6,where both show a process of a reverse signal. In FIGS. 9 and 10, thesame reference numerals are regarded as indicating the elements havingthe same function and operation as those of FIGS. 4 and 5, and thedetailed description of the same elements may be herein omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, EHU 600 comprises a WCDMA/WiBro receiver configuredto receive the multiplexed signal of a WCDMA signal and a WiBro signalfrom a lower EHU or an ERU for WCDMA/Wibro; a WCDMA/Ethernet receiverconfigured to receive the multiplexed signal of a WCDMA signal and anEthernet signal from an ERU for WCDMA/WiFi; an Ethernet transmitterconfigured to transmit an Ethernet signal to an Ethernet equipment; anda WCDMA/WiBro transmitter configured to transmit the multiplexed signalof the WCDMA signal and the WiBro signal to an upper UMU 500.

The WCDMA/WiBro receiver of EHU 600 comprises a photo-electric converter501 and a reframer 503 configured to receive and process an opticalsignal transmitted from a lower EHU. Also, the WCDMA/WiBro receiver ofEHU 600 comprises physical chips 507 and 509, a data combination unit511 and a reframer 513 configured to receive and process a UTP signaltransmitted from a lower EHU. First, if an optical signal is receivedfrom a lower EHU, the photo-electric converter 501 converts the receivedoptical signal into a digital signal which is electrically processed,and the reframer 503 reframes the digital signal to extract a pure datasignal. DEMUX 505 demultiplexes the reframed signal to separate into aWiBro signal and a WCDMA signal. Meanwhile, if signals are receivedthrough two UTP cables from a lower EHU, each of two physical chips 507and 509 converts the received signal to a digital signal, and the datacombination unit 511 combines the signals to form one signal. Thereframer 513 reframes the signal output from the data combination unit511, and DEMUX 515 demultiplexes the signal output from reframer 513 toseparate into a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signal.

The WCDMA/WiBro receiver of EHU 600 configured to receive a signal fromERU 700-N for WCDMA/WiBro comprises physical chips 323 and 325, a datacombination unit 321 and a reframer 517, wherein ERU 700-N is identicalto ERU 200-2 for WCDMA/WiBro shown in FIG. 4. Contrary to FIG. 5, thereframer 517 reframes the signal output from the data combination unit321 to output to DEMUX 519. DEMUX 519 demultiplexes the signal outputfrom the reframer 517 to separate into a WiBro signal and a WCDMA signalwhich are output to WCDMA SUM 523 and WiBro SUM 521, respectively.

Meanwhile, the WCDMA/Ethernet receiver of EHU 600 has the sameconfiguration as the WCDMA/Ethernet receiver of FIG. 5, except for thatthe signal output from a reframer 329 is output to DEMUX 327 wherein thesignal output from the reframer 329 is demultiplexed to be separatedinto a WCDMA signal and an Ethernet signal in DEMUX 327, the separatedWCDMA signal is output to WCDMA SUM 523, and the separated Ethernetsignal is output to the data converter 315 of an Ethernet transmitter.Specifically, a 50 MHz/2 bit Ethernet signal separated and output fromDEMUX 327 is converted into a 25 MHz/1 bit signal in the converter 315for data received and output to the physical chip 313 wherein the signalis converted into a 100 Mbps Ethernet signal and output to an Ethernetequipment.

Next, the WCDMA/WiBro transmitter of EHU 600, configured to transmitsignals received from a lower EHU and ERUs of 700-1 to 700-N to theupper UMU 500, comprises MUXs 601 and 607, framers 603 and 609, anelectric-photo converter 605, a data distribution unit 611, and physicalchips 613 and 615. Among these, MUX 601, the framer 603 and theelectric-photo converter 605 are to transmit signals through an opticalcable to the upper UMU 500. MUX 607, framer 609, the data distributionunit 611, the physical chips 613 and 615 are to transmit signals througha UTP cable to the upper UMU 500.

Specifically, WiBro SUM 521 receives and sums WiBro signals separatedfrom DEMUXs 505, 515 and 519, and outputs the signals to MUXs 601 and607. WCMDA SUM 523 receives and sums WCDMA signals separated from DEMUXs327, 505, 515 and 519 and outputs the signals to MUXs 601 and 607. Forthe process of forward signals, a unit for summing signals isunnecessary since the signals are broadcast to a lower device, but forthe process of reverse signals, a unit for summing signals is necessarysince the signals may be multiplied and simultaneously received fromlower devices and the received signals should be transmitted to upperdevices.

The signals summed in WiBro SUM 521 and WCMDA SUM 523 is eachselectively output to each of MUXs 601 and 607 through a transmissionline. If a signal is transmitted through an optical cable to the upperUMU 500, the signal is output to MUX 601. If a signal is transmittedthrough a UTP cable, the signal is output to MUX 607. In the case oftransmitting through the optical cable, MUX 601 receives a WiBro signaland a WCDMA signal from WiBro SUM 521 and WCMDA SUM 523, respectively,and multiplexes the received signals, the multiplexed signal is framedin the framer 603, the framed signals is converted into an opticalsignal in the electric-photo converter 605 and transmitted through anoptical cable to the upper UMU 500. Meanwhile, in the case oftransmitting through the UTP cable, MUX 607 receives a WiBro signal anda WCDMA signal from WiBro SUM 521 and WCMDA SUM 523, respectively, andmultiplexes the received signals, the multiplexed signal is framed inthe framer 609, the framed signals is distributed into two signals indata distribution unit 611, the distributed signals are converted into100 Mbps Ethernet signals in physical chips 613 and 615 and transmittedto the upper UMU 500.

The signal output from EHU 600 as mentioned above is transmitted throughan optical cable or a UTP cable to UMU 500, and also the reverse signalis received from ERUs 200-1 and 200-2 which are directly connected tothe UTP cable to UMU 500. Referring to FIG. 10, UMU 500 is identical toEHU 600 in terms of its partial configuration. The WCDMA/WiBro receiverof UMU 500 is identical to the WCDMA/WiBro receiver of EHU 600, and theWCDMA/Ethernet receiver of UMU 500 is identical to the WCDMA/Ethernetreceiver of EHU 600. Also, DEMUXs 327, 505, 515 and 519, WCDMA SUM 523,WiBro SUM 521 and an Ethernet transmitter are identical of theircorresponding parts, respectively. UMU 500 is not provided with theWCDMA/WiBro transmitter of EHU 600, but comprises a WiBro transmitterand a WCDMA transmitter, similar to FIG. 5. That is, although EHU 600transmits a signal to UMU 500, since UMU 500 transmits a signal to abase station or optical repeater, both are different from each otherwhen it comes to connecting to an upper device.

Specifically, UMU 500, shown in FIG. 10, comprises a WiBro transmitterand a WCDMA transmitter configured to transmit a signal to a basestation or optical repeater, the WiBro transmitter converts an electricsignal received from WiBro SUM 521 into an optical signal and transmitsthe converted signal to an optical repeater, or converts the signal intoa RF signal and transmits the RF signal to a base station. Similarly,the WCDMA transmitter converts an optical signal received from WCDMA SUM523 into an electric signal and transmits the converted signal to anoptical repeater, or converts the signal into a RF signal and transmitsthe RF signal to a base station. An Ethernet transmitter transmits anEthernet signal received and separated from ERU 200-1 which is atermination unit to FES which is an external Ethernet equipment.

The integrated relay system, which is explained with reference to FIGS.6 to 10 above, further comprises EHU 600 as a hub repeater between UMU500 as a main repeater and ERUs of 700-1 to 700-N as a termination unit.EHU 600 is connected to the main repeater UMU 500 and its lower devices,EHU 600 and 800 through an optical cable or a UTP cable, while beingconnected to the termination units ERUs of 700-1 to 700-N through a UTPcable. Accordingly, in various places including a large-scale complexbuilding, a mobile communication signal and internet signal can beserviced without any fault, and such a service can be extended.

The integrated relay system of the present invention may have a fault ina WCDMA signal or WiBro signal path. Since the integrated relay systemof the present invention multiplexes a WCDMA signal or WiBro signal andan internet signal before relaying, if a fault occurs in a WCDMA signalor WiBro signal path, internet services may be stopped. Accordingly, itis necessary to be able to provide internet service even if a WCDMAsignal or WiBro signal fault occurs.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according toanother embodiment of the present invention, which shows theautoswitching process of an internet signal,

In FIG. 11, UMU or EHU refers to as UMU 100, 500 or EHU 600 shown inFIGS. 1 to 10, ERU refers to ERU 200-1, 700-1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10.That is, the ERU of FIG. 11 is for WCDMA/WiFi. In FIG. 11, onlycomponents for the autoswitching of an internet signal are shown, othersare not shown.

Similar to FIGS. 1 to 10, referring to FIG. 11, UMU or EHU 100 or 500comprises a physical chip 113 or 313 configured to receive a 100 MbpsEthernet signal from an external Ethernet equipment, FES, and convertsthe received signal into a digital signal; and a physical chip 131 or331 configured to transmit the multiplexed signal of an Ethernet signaland a WCDMA signal to ERU 200-1 or 700-11. Also, ERU 200-1 or 700-1comprises a physical chip 201 or 401 configured to receive and processthe multiplexed signal of a WCDMA signal and an Ethernet signal receivedfrom UMU or EHU 100 or 500; and a physical chip 209 or 409 which isconnected to an AP module 211 or 411 for a WiFi communication with auser terminal.

As shown in FIG. 11, the UMU (or EHU) and ERU of the integrated relaysystem according to the present invention comprises switches 710 and730, respectively. When a WCDMA signal path normally operates, eachswitch 710 and 730 represents the signal path of ‘-’, while in theabnormal operation of a WCDMA signal, each switch 710 and 730 representsthe signal path of ‘-’. That is, when a WCDMA signal path is normal, anEthernet signal and a WCDMA signal is multiplexed in UMU (or EHU) andthen transmitted to ERU, or reversely a signal is received andtransmitted through a reverse path. When a WCDMA signal path isabnormal, an internet signal received from an Ethernet equipment (FES)is directly transmitted to the AP module 211 or 411 of ERU, and aninternet signal of a user which is received through the AP module 211 or411 is directly transmitted to the Ethernet equipment (FES).

Thus, the integrated relay system of the present invention can preventan internet failure by autoswitching an internet signal path when afault occurs in a WCDMA signal path. In the autoswitching procedure,each switch 710 and 730 may be controlled in the central server of acommunication company or may manually operate by itself, which is notparticularly limited to its controlling method.

FIG. 12 shows a configuration of ERU according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. In FIG. 12, the same reference numerals areregarded as indicating the elements having the same function andoperation as those of FIG. 3, and the detailed description of the sameelements may be herein omitted.

Contrary to ERU 200-1 shown in FIG. 3, ERU 800 shown in FIG. 12 furthercomprises a filtering unit 810. The filtering unit 810 filters a WCDMAsignal which is output from a RF converter 215 and delivered through anantenna to prevent the signal from entering the AP module 211. In thecase of using a plurality of communication equipments, a certain degreeof isolation between the communication equipments should be ensured. Ifnot, a signal transmitted from other communication equipment acts as aninterference to deteriorate the performance of the communicationequipment.

The ERU 800 according to one embodiment of the present invention offersa wireless LAN service (e.g., WiFi) and a WCDMA communication service,and thus AP module 211 which offers the wireless LAN service is locatedin a close distance with RF converter 215 which offers the WCDMAcommunication service. Accordingly, these do not have sufficientisolation with each other and act as interference for each other. Inorder to prevent such an interference, as shown in FIG. 12, thefiltering unit 810 is adopted between AP module 211 and the antenna tofilter a WCDMA signal which is output from RF converter 215 anddelivered through the antenna, thereby preventing the WCDMA signal fromacting as an interference in the wireless LAN service. Preferably, thefiltering unit 810 may be a band pass filter which interrupts thefrequency bandwidth of the WCDMA signal.

Also, ERU 800 may comprise a shielding unit for blocking anelectromagnetic wave influence between components offering a wirelessLAN service (e.g., substrate, electric/electronic device, and the like)and components offering a WCDMA service, although not shown. Theshielding unit is interposed between components offering a wireless LANservice (e.g., substrate, electric/electronic device, and the like) andcomponents offering a WCDMA service. The shielding unit comprises atleast one of a conductive material (such as conductive carbon black,nickel, copper, iron and the like), pure iron and silicon steel, and isconnected to the contact part of ERU 800.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration of an integrated relay system according tostill another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13,UMU 100 comprises a power supply unit 910, ERU 200-N comprises a powerunit 930. The power supply unit 910 of UMU 100 is based on a power overEthernet (PoE) and supplies a power through a UTP cable to the powerunit 930 of ERU 200-N. The PoE technology is to supply a power and datathrough the existing UTP cable according to IEEE 802.3af standard.Accordingly, when ERU 200-N is installed in a complex building, it issupplied with a power from UMU 100 by means of a remote control method,with no additional power source. In FIG. 13, although a power issupplied from UMU 100 to ERU(200-N), EHU 600 may also supply a power toERU based on PoE.

The various aspects proposed herein are just preferable examples for thepurpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of thepresent invention. Various aspects illustrated in an individualembodiment herein are realized by a combination thereof in oneembodiment. On the contrary, various aspects illustrated in oneembodiment herein may be individually realized in other embodiments orin a suitable subcombination.

The present invention has been described in detail above. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description, specific embodimentsand the accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, notintended to limit the scope of the present invention, since variouschanges and modifications within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdetailed description.

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 7. An integrated repeater for relaying a signal received froman upper device to a lower device, comprising: a first receiverconfigured to receive a first mobile communication signal transmittedfrom a mobile communication base station which is the upper device; asecond receiver configured to receive an Ethernet signal transmittedfrom an Ethernet equipment which is the upper device; a firstmultiplexer configured to multiplex the first mobile communicationsignal received from the first receiver and the Ethernet signal receivedfrom the second receiver; and a switching unit configured to beselectively connected to either the second receiver or the firstmultiplexer to deliver the signal output from the second receiver or thefirst multiplexer to the lower device, depending on whether a fault ofthe mobile communication signal is generated.
 8. The integrated repeateraccording to claim 7, wherein the switching unit is connected to thesecond receiver to deliver only the Ethernet signal to the lower device,not through the first multiplexer, when a fault of the mobilecommunication signal is generated.
 9. The integrated repeater accordingto claim 7, which is connected to the lower device through a UTP cableinstalled inside a building.
 10. The integrated repeater according toclaim 9, which further comprises a power supply unit configured tosupply a power through the UTP cable which is connected to a LANconnecter to the lower device.
 11. The integrated repeater according toclaim 7, which further comprises: a third receiver configured to receivea second mobile communication signal from the upper device; a secondmultiplexer configured to multiplex the first mobile communicationsignal received from the first receiver and the second mobilecommunication signal received from the third receiver; and a transmitterconfigured to transmit the signal multiplexed in the second multiplexerto other lower device.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled) 15.(canceled)